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When to Plant Lemon Thyme in Spokane County, WA

Lemon thyme is a low-growing perennial herb with tiny, citrus-scented leaves. It combines the savory quality of thyme with a bright lemon flavor, excellent with fish and poultry.

Spokane County, Washington is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost is September 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 139 days.

At an elevation of 1,645 feet, Spokane County receives approximately 20.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lemon Thyme during the growing season.

Spokane County, WA (Zone 6a) Short season
139 days
Last Spring Frost May 11
139 growing days
First Fall Frost September 27

Spokane County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Lemon Thyme Planting Timeline โ€” Spokane County, WA

Lemon Thyme Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 18 May 18 โ€“ Jun 1
Harvest July 27 Jul 27 โ€“ Sep 28

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Transplant Outdoors
June Transplant Outdoors
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

70โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“8 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

139 days in Spokane County

Growing Tips for Spokane County

Start from cuttings or divisions. Plant in well-drained soil. Trim back after flowering. Use as a fragrant ground cover or edging plant along garden paths.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lemon Thyme in Spokane County, WA?

Spokane County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 11. Plan your Lemon Thyme planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Spokane County, WA?

Spokane County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and first fall frost is September 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Spokane County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Spokane County, WA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.